ABSTRACT
Clinical or major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and has serious consequences for sufferers. This chapter explores the biological processes that may explain the childhood maltreatment–major depression link, with a focus on genetic, epigenetic and inflammatory mechanisms. It focuses on the association between childhood maltreatment and major depression. The chapter also explores genetic, epigenetic and inflammation mechanisms. It discusses a model begins to emerge that considers multiple biological systems, but one that requires further investigation and draws on conceptual frameworks proposed previously (Brown & Harris, 2008; Palma-Gudiel & Fañanás, 2017). The chapter also discusses after exposure to childhood maltreatment, it is likely that a series of biological alterations are induced, including two processes: hypermethylation of the SLC6A4 gene as well as elevated inflammation. Inflammation is the body's response to injury, infection and other harmful stimuli (e.g. pathogens) by promoting healing and recovery as well as limiting the spread of the infection or injury.
